On the structure of the quasiconvex hull in planar elasticity (Q2510347)

The author studies quasiconvexity problems in the calculus of variations. He focuses on quasiconvexity properties of sets \(K_1\) and \(K_2\) of \(2\times 2\) matrices and gives an algebraic characterization for \(K_1\) and \(K_2\) to be incompatible for homogeneous gradient Young meassures. The main result is the folloiwing: Theorem. Let \(K_1, K_2 \subseteq \mathbb{M}^{2\times 2}\) be compact and frame invariant sets of matrices with positive determinant. Set \(C_{K_i}=\{Y^tY\,|\,Y\in K_i\}\) for \(i=1,2.\) Then, the following properties are equivalent: (a) \(K_1\) and \(K_2\) are incompatible for homogeneous gradient Young measures. (b) For every \(X_1\in C_{K_1}\) and \(X_2\in C_{K_2}\) we have \(\text{det}(X_1-X_2)>0\) and, in addition, \(C_{K_1}\) and \(C_{K_2}\) are incompatible for T4 configurations. The achieved result can be used to determine the structure of the quasiconvex hull for sets of energy wells in planar elasticity.